Domestic appliance for washing, drying and fluffing clothes



Jan. 20, 1959 2,869,346

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE FOR WASHING, DRYING AND FLUFF'ING CLOTHES B. L.BRUCKEN 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Byron L. Bracken Filed Sept... 2,1955 H is Attorney Jan. 20, 1959 B. L. BRUCKEN 2,

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE FOR WASHING, DRYING AND FLUFFING CLOTHES Filed Sept.2, 1955 v s Sheets-Sheet 2 3 1 -2o7 20p 28 I20 35/ 1164 v 2| A I 205 69v 205 82 l 4 |4o I78 INVENTOR. Byron L. Bracken Q gr: By

His Attorney B. BRUCKEN DOMESTIC APPLIANCE FOR WASHING, DRYING ANDFLUFFING CLOTHES Fil ed Sept. 2, 1955 Jan. 20, r 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Iill/llllllil! ,llllllllllfflillll!!! nil-Id! nl! I l a 1 Q @A f HisAfforney Jan. 20, 1959 B. L. BRUCKEN 2,869,

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE FOR WASHING, DRYING AND FLUFFING CLOTHES Filed Sept.2, 1955 6- Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

Byron L. Bracken BY His Attorney Jan. 20, 1959 B. L. BRUCKEN DOMESTICAPPLIANCE FOR WASHING, DRYING AND FLUFFING CLOTHES Filed Sept. 2, 1955 6Sheets-Sheet 5 WASH INVENTOR. Byron L. Brucken BY Hl's Aflomey Ym 0 W i& R 3 0% H m W m M m m 2 w 1959 B. L. BRUCKEN DOMESTIC APPLIANCE FORWASHING, DRYING AND FLUFF'ING CLOTHES Filed Sept. 2, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet6 INVENTOR. yron L. Bracken s Attorney United States Patent DOMESTICAPPLHANCE FQR WASHING, DRY- ING AND FLUFFHNG CLOTHES Byron L. Brucken,Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, acorporation of Delaware Application September 2, 1955, Seriai No.532,236

6 Claims. (Cl. 68-19) This invention relates to a domestic appliance andmore particularly to a combined washer-dryer having a verticalreciprocating agitator within an upright centrifuging tub.

Washing machines having vertically reciprocating agitators within anupright centrifuging tub have been widely used and have many advantages.To arrange such a machine to dry the clothes has been a difficultproblem since all the dryers now being produced and used for domesticuse are of the horizontal drum type.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple, effective,practical apparatus for drying and fluffing clothes in the upright tubof a washing machine having a vertically reciprocating agitator withinan upright centrifuging tub.

It is another object of this invention to provide an arrangement foreffective flufling and drying the clothes in an improved mannerfollowing centrifuging.

These and other objects are obtained in the form of a combinedwasher-dryer disclosed in this application in which an independentagitator is vertically reciprocated within a centrifuging tub forwashing. The tub is rotated upon its own axis for centrifuging thewashing liquid from the clothes. For fiufling and drying the clothesfollowing centrifuging, the lower end of the agitator shaft is movedeccentrically at a predetermined rate to wobble the tub in the presenceof heated circulated air while the tub is being rotated in the oppositedirection at a much slower rate. All of the steps in the washing anddrying cycles are automatically controlled.

Further objects and advantages of the present inven tion will beapparent from the following description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present inventionis clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a combined washerdryer embodying oneform of my invention with a portion of the walls broken away to revealthe interior parts;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 22 ofFigures 1, and 6 showing the heating duct;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic vertical sectional view showing the waterflow during the washing operation;

Figure 4 is a diagrammtic vertical sectional view similar to Figure 3showing the water flow during the drying operation;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 55 of Figure2 showing the position of the parts and the water flow during thewashing period;

' Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view also taken along the line 5-5 ofFigure 2 showing the position of the parts as well as the water and airflow during the drying period;

Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the agitation,spinning and drying mechanism;

Figure 8 is an enlarged view partly in section of the motor, clutch andpump mechanism;

Patented Jan, as, was

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view takenalong the line 99 of Figure 7;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line Iii-10 ofFigure 8;

Figure 11 is a horizontal sectional View taken along the line ll-ll ofFigure 7 showing the eccentrics oppositely positioned and the agitatorshaft centered;

Figure 12 is a similar sectional view also taken along the line lit- 11of Figure 7 but showing the eccentricity compounded;

Figure 13 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the agitating anddriving mechanisms;

Figure 14 is a wiring diagram of the control system; and

Figure 15 is a view partly in section illustrating a modified clutch andpulley stop arrangement.

Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to Figures 1 to 5there is shown a combined washerdryer including an upright rectangularcabinet 35 provided with a top 37 which is removable for access to theinterior. The top 37 is provided with a back splash panel portion 41having thereon a timer dial knob 43, a water temperature selector switch45 and a dryer temperature selector control 47. The top 37 is alsoprovided with a recessed lid 49 as shown in Figure 5 and 6 which issubstantially square. The central portion of the top 37 beneath the lid49 is provided with a downwardly flanged circular opening 53. Thecylindrical flange of this opening 53 extends downwardly into the roundcentrifuging tub 57 for providing access to the tub. The lid 49 ispreferably hinged at the rear with a piano type hinge.

As better shown in Figures 5 and 6, the tub 57 is provided with aninwardly and upwardly extending top wall 61 provided with an opening anda curled edge 63 surrounding the downwardly flanged cylindrical portion53 around the opening in the top wall 37. The tub 57 is provided with anupwardly and outwardly flared side wall 65. At the junction of the topand side walls 61 and 65 there is provided a series of perforations 67permitting the free escape of liquid when the tub 57 is spun forcentrifuging. The side walls 5 connect directly to the bottom of thewall 69 which in turn connects to a central casting 71 better shown inFigure 7. This central casting 71 has an inner hub threaded onto theupper end of a coaxial sleeve 73 forming the tub shaft. This centralcasting '71 also has an upper recess which holds the outer race of aballbearing 75. The inner race of the ballbearing 75 is locked to acentral member 76 surrounding the outer surface of the central verticalagitator shaft 95 which has a hollow upper portion.

The central casting 71 through a spacer 74 locks the inner race of theballbearing 78 to the hollow tub shaft 73. The outer race of the bearing78 is supported in a recess in the bearing support 79 provided upon thetop of the tubular housing 8i. This bearing support 79 is clamped by thethreaded ring 83 to the top of a conical shaft resilient support member85 of suitably reinforced synthetic rubber. This support providescontrolled lateral and vertical resilience with an amount of dampingeffect. This support 85 is in turn supported upon the center of thebulkhead or catch basin 87 as shown in Figures 5 to 7. This bulkhead orcatch basin 87 has its edges resting in the seal 85! supported upon theinner surface of the vertical walls of the cabinet 35.

At the lower end of the concentric sleeve or tub shaft 73, is fastened asmall pulley 128. The lower projecting portion of this small pulley 128extends downwardly into contact with a thrust bearing 89 provided withinthe small pulley 93. The small pulley 93 is made integral with the largepulley 91 which is fixed to the lower end of the agitator shaft 95. Thelower end of the shaft 95 is pinned to a small eccentric 97 rotatablymounted within the larger eccentric 99 which in turn is rotatablymounted in a cylindrical bearing ring 102 provided with flanges holdingthe outer eccentric in place. The two eccentrics have the same or equalthrow. Suitable bearing surfaces are provided between the parts 97, 99and 102.

The purpose of this double eccentric construction is to make it possibleto rotate the bottom of the central agitator shaft either concentricallyor eccentrically for a purpose hereinafter to be disclosed (see Figures11 and 12). To do this automatically, the inner eccentric 97 is providedwith a laterally extending arm 104 extending over the face of the outereccentric 99. The outer eccentric 99 has two upwardly extending pins 106and 108 extending upwardly in the path of relative rotation of theprojection arm 104. If the central agitator shaft 95 and the innereccentric are turned in the counterclockwise direction as viewed inFigure 11, the arm 104 will engage the stop pin 106 holding theeccentrics in a counteracting or neutralizing relationship so that theshaft 95 and the two eccentrics 97 and 99 rotate concentrically withinthe ring bearing 102. However, as the central shaft 95 and the innerconcentrics 97 are turned in the clockwise direction as viewed in Figure12 the arm 104 engages the stop pin 108 to change the relative po itionsof t e eccentrics 97 and 99 by 190 so that their eccentricity isadditive or compounded. This causes the central agitator shaft 95 tomove eccentrically about the center of the ring bearing 102. The ringbearing 102 is mounted within a ring 330 of a suitable resilientsynthetic rubber as shown in Figure 7. The eccentric rotation of thebottom of the shaft 95 as shown in Figure 12 is used to provide awobbling of the tub 57 for fluffing the clothes during drying as willhereinafter be described.

To minimize vibration during this wobbling action, the member 76 at theupper end of the agitator shaft 95 is provided with an eccentricallyarranged upwardly extending arm 112 which extends circumferentially intoa semi-circle and counterbalances the tub as indicated in Figure 9during the wobbling of the tub 57. This arm 112 also includes a ball andsocket joint 113 receiving the arm 114 of the ring member 115. This ringmember 115 holds the outer race of the ballbearing 116. The inner raceof this ballbearing 116 is formed by an inclined raceway upon the hub117. This hub 117 is connected by a one-way clutch 118 to the agitatorpost 119. The lower end of the post 119 is slidably mounted within theupper tubular end of the agitator shaft 95. Mounted upon the agitatorpost 119 is the upper cylindrical pilot portion 120 and the flared skirtportion 121 of the reciprocating agitator. Within the agitator there isa flexible sealing bellows 122 of flexible elastic synthetic rubbermaking a sealing engagement with the top of an inverted metal shell 123having its bottom portion connected and sealed to the central casting 71for the purpose of enclosing and sealing the reciprocating mechanismincluding the members 112 to 119 inclusive. A bearing member 124 whichin turn is connected to and sealed to the cover 123. This bearing member124 guides the upper end of the agitator post 119. There is alsoprovided a key and keyway between the post 119 and the member 124 toallow vertical reciprocation but to prevent relative rotation. When thepulley 91 rotates the shaft 95 and the member 76 and the arms 112 and114, the hub 117 and the agitator post 119 as well as the agitatormembers 120 and 121 will be vertically reciprocated from the full lineposition to the dot-dash line position shown in Figure 7 and back againwith each revolution of the shaft 95 which may revolve at 350 R. P. M.for example. Upon the upward movement the flared skirt 121 will allowliquid to flow in between it and the metal cover 123 and upon thedownward stroke the excess liquid will be forced outwardly therebyagitating the liquid and the clothes within the tub to provide a washingaction. This washing action is not only effective for washing purposesbut is also effective in keeping the clothes substantially evenlydistributed about the tub so that normally the clothes will not beexcessively unbalanced at the start of the centrifuging period.

Fixed to the bottom of the sleeve 73 is a small pulley 123. Above thissmall pulley 128 is a large pulley 130 which is connected to the sleeve73 and the pulley 128 by a one-way wound spring clutch 132. As is bettershown in Figure 13, the pulley 128 is connected by a V-belt 134 to adrive pulley 136 rotatably mounted upon the drive shaft 138 of a drivemotor 140. Also rotatably mounted upon the motor shaft 140 is a smallerdrive pulley 142. Between these drive pulleys 136 and 142 and splined tothe motor shaft 138 is a vertically movable clutch member 144 providedwith clutching pins extending in opposite directions which are adaptedto engage recesses in either of the pulleys 136 and 142. The clutchmember 144 is provided with an annular groove engaged by a shifting fork146 extending from a T-shaped lever 148. The upper end of the T-shapedlever 148 is connected by a stiff spring 150 to the operating plunger152 of a solenoid 154 (Figure 8). The T-shaped lever 143 may be providedwith projections 147 and 149 for the purpose of engaging the projections143 and 147 (Figure 13) upon the pulleys 142 and 136 when these pulleysare disengaged from the clutch member 144 in order to prevent the freerotation of these pulleys when so disengaged.

The pulley 142 is connected by a V-belt 156 to the large pulley 91.Integral with this large pulley 91 is a small pulley 93. This smallpulley 93 is connected by the crossed-belt 158 to a larger pulley 160rotatably mounted upon the lower end of a shaft 162 (Figure 7). Thisshaft 162 is fastened by the nut 163 at its upper end to the support170. As shown best in Figures 5 and 6, the horizontal support at one endis supported by two diagonally positioned coil springs and connectors172 and a single spring support and connector 174 at the opposite end.These springs 172 and 174 are connected to connectors which in turn arebonded to the bottom of the bulkhead 87. The support 170 is fastened tothe bottom of the housing sleeve 81 surrounding the sleeve 73; forming atubular housing between the pulley 130 and the member 71.

Fastened to the support 170 is the hydraulic cylinder 178 containing apiston and a piston rod 189 connected by the link 182 to a lever 184pivoted upon the bracket 186 extending from the cylinder 178. Theopposite end of the lever 184 is provided with a fork connection to theannular groove in the shifting collar 188. This shifting collar 188 isconnected directly to the plug 190 which is slidably mounted upon thesleeve 181 above the support 170. This plug 190 fits the inner peripheryof the bottom of the synthetic rubber support 85 to limit the amount ofmovement between the sleeve 81 and the bulkhead 87 and particularly toform a universal pivot for the wobbling of the tub during drying. Thisplug is made of resilient material such as synthetic rubber and may beprovided with a metal band around its periphery. This plug 190 isnormally urged to its lower position as illustrated in Figure 4 being acompression type coil spring 192 which surrounds the housing sleeve 31and extends between the plug 190 and the spring retainer 194. Duringdrying, the plug 190 is moved up to the position shown in Figure 4 bythe hydraulic cylinder 178. This makes the tub and the entire mechanismsuspended upon the support 85 pivot substantially about the center ofthe plug 190 so that the tub 57 may be wobbled aseasaa about this pointby the compounded eccentrics at the bottom of the shaft 95 as shown inFigure 12.

The tub 57 is filled through the fill tube 196. The liquid is spun outof the clothes and the tub during the spin period through theperforations 67 into the bulkhead 87. The bulkhead is drained throughthe tube 198 to the drain pump 201 which is connected to the bottom ofthe shaft 138 of the motor 140 as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 8. This pump201 operates whenever the motor 140 is operating. It will pump in thesame direction regardless of the direction of rotation of the motor 140.The pump 201 pumps the liquid through the drain connection 203 to asuitable drain.

To provide a method of drying, there extends across each of the cornersof the cabinet 35 above the bulkhead 87 a vertical partition wall 205providing vertical ducts. Within each of these vertical ducts fastenedto the partition walls 205 is a sheathed electric heater 207. The topsof these vertical ducts formed by the walls 205 connect to four radiallyinwardly extending ducts 209 connecting directly with the openings 211in the downwardly extending flange 53 surrounding the opening beneaththe lid 49. During the drying period, the tub 57 and the mechanismsupported by the support 85 is wobbled as shown in Figure 6 by therotation at a speed of about 350 R. P. M. of the compounded eccentricsas shown in Figure 12 and the counterbalance 112. The tub 57 is alsoturned in the opposite direction at about 50 R. P. M. through thepulleys 93, 160, 164 and 130, the belts 158 and 166 and the engagementof the one way clutch 132 to fiulf the clothes. The wobbling of the tubwithin the chamber above the bulkhead 87 causes a forced circulation ofair outwardly beneath the bottoms of the partition walls 205 up thecorner ducts and thence inwardly through the radial ducts 209. Theheaters 207 heat the air as the air flows upwardly through the ver ticalcorner ducts increasing the capaicty of the air to absorb and holdmoisture.

In this forced circulation, the air is discharged from the openings 211into the interior of the tub 57 where the hot dry air picks up moistureand escapes from the tub through the opening 55 around the flange 53.The moisture is condensed from the air by water from the condenser tube213. This tube 213 extends around the inner surfaces of the side wallsof the cabinet 35 and the inwardly facing surfaces of the partitionwalls 205 as shown in Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6. Water is discharged throughperforations in the tube. onto these adjacent vertical surfaces andflows downwardly in a thin film into the bulkhead 87 from which it isdrained by the drain tube 198. The thin film of ,water from the tube 213on these vertical surfaces condenses moisture from the heated moistcirculated air and this condensed moisture together with any lint iscarried with the condensing Water to the bulkhead 87 and to the drain.The pump 201 assures that all will be pumped to the drain.

The machine is preferably controlled automatically by the control systemshown in Figure 14. This system includes a timer motor 221 which drivesa cam shaft 223. The cam shaft has an axially slidable front portioncarrying a collar 227 connecting with an axially movable start and stopswitch member 229 for making and breaking contact with the contact 231connecting to the supply conductor L The switch member 229 is connectedby the conductor 234 to a switch 236 operated by a cam 238 which opensthe switch 236 at the end of the washing and rinsing functions to stopthe entire machine in the event that drying is not desired. The switch229 also is connected by a conductor 240 to a manual switch 243connecting to the switch member 245 operated by cam 247 on the cam shaft223. This cam 247 is designed to open the switch 245 to stop the machineat the end of the functions. The switches 243 and 245 close one shunt orbypass circuit including the conductor 240 around the switch 236 toprevent the stopping of the 5 machine at the end of the final rinseperiod. The switches 236 and 245 are connected by the conductor 249 toone terminal of the timer motor 221. The second terminal of the timermotor 221 is connected by the conductor 2 51 to the neutral supplyconductor N.

The cam shaft 223 is provided with a cam 253 for closing the switch 255connecting the conductor 249 with the hot water solenoid coil 257 andthe conductor 259 connecting to the neutral supply conductor N. A secondcam 261 controls a switch 263 having two contacts. One of the contactsconnects with the cold water solenoid 265 which is also connected by theconductor 267 with the neutral supply conductor N. The second contact ofthe switch 263 connects to a shunt 269 provided with a manually operablewater supply selector switch 45 which connects to the hot water solenoid257 and which may be closed to obtain rinse fills of mixed hot and coldwater. If the switch 45 is open the rinse fills will be of cold or tepidwater from the cold or tepid water supply 302. The solenoid 265 controlsthe cold water valve in the valve body 273 while the solenoid 257controls the hot water valve which controls the hot water flow from thehot water supply 310. Both valves discharge from the valve body 273 intothe fill tube 196.

The cam shaft 223 is also provided with a cam 275 operating a switch 277connected by the conductor 279 to the solenoid 154 of the clutchshifting mechanism. This solenoid 154 is connected by the conductor 281to neutral supply conductor N.

The cam shaft 223 is also provided with a cam 283 which operates thereversing switch 285 to operate the motor in either direction ofrotation. The switch 285 alternately connects the opposite terminals ofthe motor through the conductor 287 to the neutral supply conductor N.

The cam shaft 223 is provided with a cam 289 operating the switch 291connecting the conductor 249 to the conductor 293 which connects to thesolenoid 295. This solenoid 295 is also connected by the conductor 297to the neutral supply conductor N. The solenoid 295 controls a watervalve 293 and normally shuts oil the supply connection 302 and connectsthe hydraulic cylinder 178 through the conduit 304 to the drain conduit203. However, when the solenoid 295 is energized by the closing of theswitch 291, the water fiows from thesupply connection 302 to the valve299 and the conduit 306 to the condenser spray tube 213. Also the waterflows from the valve 239 through the conduit 308 to the hydrauliccylinder 178 to move its piston and the lever 184 and the plug into theposition shown in Figure 4.

The cam shaft 223 is provided with a cam 312 which operates a switch 314connecting through the conductor 316 with the dryer temperature selector318 having the thermostatically controlled contacts 320. The selector318 also has a thermostat bulb 322 located on one of the upper ducts 20%as illustrated in Figure 2. The switch 320 connects through theconductor 317 with the common conductor 324 connecting with one terminalof each of the heaters 207. The opposite terminals of the heaters 207are connected through the conductor 326 to the supply conductor L Whenthe switches 314 and 320 are closed, the heaters 207 have a voltage ofabout 236 volts applied to them to heat the atmosphere within the fourvertical corner ducts. The dryer temperature selector 318 is adjustableby the selector knob 47 to select the temperature to be maintainedduring the drying period.

If it is desired only to provide a wash period, the switch 243 isopened. If it is desired to dry the clothes following the washing andrinsing periods the switch 243 is closed. The closing of the switch 243shunts or bypasses the switch 236 which is operated to open position bythe cam 238, at the end of the final centrifuging period of the washingcycle. To start operation'at the beginning of the washing period, theknob 43 is turned to the start position for the wash period. if onlydrying is desired, the knob 43 is turned directly to the startingposition for the drying period. The cam 238 is arranged so that itrecloses the switch 236 after the opening thereof at the end of thefinal centrifuging period.

The knob 43 is also pushed in to close the switch members 229 and 231.This energizes the timer motor 221 which operates the cams 253 and 261to close the switches 255 and 263 to energize the solenoids 257 and 265to cause hot water and cold water to flow from the spray pipes 319 and392 through the water vaive 273 and the fill tube 196 into the tub for asufiicient time to fill the tub 57 to a level sufiicient for washing.

The timer motor 221 then moves the cam 283 in position to move thereversing switch 285 to the forward position to operate the motor 140 todrive through the shaft 138, the clutch member 144 and the pulley 142 inthe forward direction indicated by the arrows in full line on Figure 13.The pulley 142 drives the belt 156 to rotate the inner shaft 95 torotate the arm 112 and the arm 1.14 to reciprocate the agitator post 119and the agitator elements 126 and 121 as a unit. This agitates theliquid and the clothes in the tub. In this direction of rotation, theeccentrics 97 and 99 move and rotate concentrically as shown in Figure11. These eccentrics rotate within the ring 1.92 which is supported bythe rubber mounting 330 as shown in Figure 7. The plug 190 is withdrawnfrom the support 35 by the spring 1.92.

At the end of the washing period, the cam 275 moves the switch 277 toclosed position to energize the solenoid 154 to connect the clutch 144to the pulley 136. At the same time the cam 283 holds the reversingswitch 285 in the forward position thereby causing the motor 140 tocontinue to turn in the same direction as indicated by the dash dotarrows in Figure 13 to drive through the pulley 128 to rotate the tubshaft 73 to spin the tub 57 at a relatively high speed such as 1100 R.P. M. The liquid in the tub and in the clothes is centrifuged outthrough the perforations 67 in the upper portion of the tub 57 into thebulkhead 87 which is drained by the drain tube 198. The pump 201 pumpsthis liquid to the drain to the tube 203.

During both of these periods, the one-way clutch 132 unwinds so that thepulley 3.30 is disconnected from the tub shaft 73. A second rinse periodsimilar to the first washing or agitating periods follows together witha second centrifuging period. If the switch 243 is open, the cam 2.38will stop the operation at the end of the final centrifuging period byopening the switch 236. However, if the switch 243 is closed, the timermotor 221 will continue to operate. The cam 239 will then close theswitch 29A to energize the solenoid 295 to move the valve 299 to apositi n connecting the cold water supply conduit 3G2 with the hydrauliccylinder 178 and also to the condenser spray tube This connects thewater system for the drying period as illustrated in Figure 4. Thehydraulic cylinder moves the plug 9 up into position within the supportas shown in full lines in Figure 7. The water, which fiows through theconduit 396 to the condenser suppiy tube, is sprayed onto the innerwalls of the cabinet to condense moisture out of the atmosphere which iscirculated by the wobbling of the tub 57 in the chamber above thebulkhead 57.

The cam 253 also moves the reversing switch 285 to the reversingposition. The cam 275 moves the switch 277 to the open position todeenergize the solenoid 154 to cause the clutch member 144 to re-engagethe pulley 142. This causes the pulley 1.42 to operate in the reversedirection as indicated by the dotted arrows in Figure 13.

The belt 156 drives the pulley 91 and the center shaft 95 in the reversedirection of rotation at a moderate speed for example 350 R. P. M. Thismoves the eccentrics 97 and 99 to the additive or compounded positionillustrated in Figure 12. This causes the eccentric rotation of thebottom of the shaft 95 to cause the tub to wobble about,

the point of the plug 190 as illustrated in Figure 6. The counterbalance112 located on the opposite side of the shaft is rotated eccentricallyat the same speed in the same direction within the agitator to minimizevibration during the wobbling of the tub 57.

At the same time, the small pulley 93 through the crossed belt 163 andthe pulleys 160 and 164 as well as the belt 166 rotates the pulley inthe opposite direction at a relatively slow speed such as 50 R. P. M.The rotation of the pulley 13b in this direction causes the one-waywound spring clutch 132 to engage and connect the pulley 13% to the tubshaft 73 to rotate the tub 73 in the opposite direction at a speed ofabout 50 R. P. M. This is called turn back. It assists in thedistribution of the clothes during drying. This wobbling of the tub inone direction at a suitable rate of sped and the reverse rotation of thetub at a suitable slow speed of turn back provides an excellentdistributing and ffuffing action for loosening and untangling theclothes following centrifuging. This makes it possible for all of theclothes to be contacted by the warm air which is circulated by theeccentric movement of the tub within the cabinet upwardly through theducts 2J5 and 209 and into and out of the tub.

This circulating air, which is heated by the heaters 207, removesmoisture from the clothes and carries its moisture to the water filmprovided by the condenser tube 213 upon the inner surfaces of thecabinet to condense the moisture from this circulating air to dry theclothes. The temperature of the heaters 297 is selected by the knob 47and controlled by the switch 3259. After a sufficient period of time,the cam 312 opens a switch 314 to terminate the heating. The motorcontinues to operate and wobble the tub until the clothes are cooled.The drying period is terminated by the opening of the reversing switch285 by the cam 283 and by the opening of the switch 245 by the earn 247.

In Fig. 15 there is an additional solenoid 454 provided for holding thepulley 136 from rotation during agitating periods. This solenoid 454 isfixed to the motor 140 and has an armature 452 connected by the spring450 to a T-shaped lever 448 provided with a projection 449 for engagingthe projections 147 upon the pulley 136. The solenoid 454 is energizedduring the agitating period to pull the lever .43 and the projection 449in a clockwise direction so that the projections 147 engage theprojection 449 to prevent rotation of the pulley 136. This prevents therotation of the tub 57 as Well as the arm 112 during the agitatingperiod so that the rotation of the shaft 95 is converted 100% to thisvertical reciprocation of the agitator. When the solenoid 454 isdeenergized, the return spring 456 returns the lever 448 in thecounterclockwise direction to the position shown in Figure 15 therebywithdrawing the projection 449 out of the path of the projections uponthe face of the pulley 136. The spring 456 extends between a second armupon the lever 448 to an ear upon the support for the solenoid 454,providing a stationary anchorage.

In accordance with the provisions of Rule 78a, reference is made to thefollowing prior filed applications:

S. N. 392,222, filed November 16, 1953; S. N. 392,223, filed November16, 1953, now Patent No. 2,801,549; S. N. 439,989, filed June 29, 1954.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosedconstitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted, as may come within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A washing machine including an upright centrifuging tub having a topopening, a bearing for rotatably mounting said tub upon an upright axis,an agitator within said tub, a drive means, a substantially verticalreciprocating means connecting said drive means and said agitator forsubstantially vertically reciprocating said agitator, a rotatingconnection connecting said driving means and said tub aaeaaee forspinning said tub for centrifuging purposes, and means connecting saiddrive means and said tub for wobbling said tub at one speed and atthe'same time rotating said tub at a diiferent speed for flufiing theclothes.

2. A washing machine including an upright centrifuging tub having a topopening, a bearing for rotatably mounting said tub upon an upright axis,an agitator within said tub, a drive means, a vertical reciprocatingmeans connecting said drive means and said agitator for substantiallyvertically reciprocating said agitator, a rotating connection connectingsaid driving means and said tub for spinning said tub for centrifugingpurposes, and means connecting said drive means and said tub forwobbling said tub at one speed and at the same time rotating said tub ata different speed for fiufiing the clothes, a casing surrounding saidtub, heating means within said casing adjacent said tub, and condensingmeans within said casing adjacent said tub.

3. A washing machine including an upright centrifuging tub having a topopening, a bearing for rotatably mounting said tub upon an upright axis,an agitator within said tub, a drive means, a vertical reciprocatingmeans connecting said drive means and said agitator for verticallyreciprocating said agitator, a rotating connection connecting saiddriving means and said tub for spinning said tub for centrifugingpurposes, said reciprocating means having an eccentrically located mass,and means connecting said drive means and said reciprocating means forwobbling said tub and connecting said drive means and said tub forrotating said tub.

4. A washing machine including an upright centrifuging tub having a topopening, a coaxial first upright member rotatably mounted beneath thetub, an upright bearing between said member and said tub for rotatablymounting said tub upon said member, an agitator within said tub providedWith a second upright member having an upright slidable nonrelativelyrotatable connection with said tub, said second upright member having aportion extending above said bearing, one of said upright members beingprovided with an inclined bearing above said upright bearing and thebottom of the tub, the other of said members being provided with a firstarm above said upright bearing and the bottom of the tub, a movable armrotatably mounted on said inclined bearing above said upright bearing, apivotal connection between said arms located above said upright bearingand the bottom of said tub, said arms and inclined bearing and pivotalconnection being located substantially within said agitator, and meansfor rotating said coaxial first upright member relative to said tub toreciprocate said agitator up and down relative to said tub.

5. A washing machine including an upright centrifuging tub having a topopening, a coaxial first upright member rotatably mounted beneath thetub, an upright bearing between said member and said tub for rotatablymounting said tub upon said member, an agitator within said tub providedwith a second upright member having an upright slidable nonrelativelyrotatable connection with said tub, said second upright member having aportion extending above said bearing, one of said upright members beingprovided with an inclined bearing above said upright bearing and thebottom of the tub, the other of said upright members being provided witha first arm above said upright bearing and the bottom of the tub, amovable arm rotatably mounted on said inclined bearing above saidupright bearing, a pivotal connection between said arms located abovesaid upright bearing and the bottom of said tub, said arms and inclinedbearing and pivotal connection being located substantially Within saidagitator, and means for rotating said coaxial first upright memberrelative to said tub to reciprocate said agitator up and down relativeto said tub, and means for rotating said coaxial first upright memberand said tub in opposite directions at different speeds.

6. A washing machine including an upright centrifuging tub having a topopening, a bearing for rotatably mounting said tub upon an upright axis,an agitator within said tub, a drive means, a substantially verticalreciprocating means connecting said drive means and said agitator forsubstantially vertically reciprocating said agitator, a rotatingconnection connecting said driving means and said tub for spinning saidtub for centrifugingpurposes, said reciprocating means having aneccentrically located mass in its upper portions and an eccentricarrangement in its lower portion, and means connecting said drive meansand said reciprocating means for operating said eccentrically locatedmass and said eccentric arrangement to wobble said tub andcoincidentally conmeeting said drive means and said tub for rotatingsaid tub.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,581,904 Xardell Apr. 20, 1926 2,344,253 Kirby Mar. 14, 1944 2,366,236Clark Jan. 2, 1945 2,618,141 Clark Nov. 18, 1952 2,733,610 Lodge Feb. 7,1956

